Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri

Summary: The Medicare Supplement plans Missouri residents have available to them can help cover the cost of healthcare services left over when using Original Medicare alone. Finding the right Medicare Supplement plans in Missouri is simple and can help you reduce healthcare expenses. Estimated Read Time: 20 mins

Table of Contents:

• Best Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri
• Who Is Eligible for Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri?
• How Much Do Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri Cost?
• Companies Offering Medigap Plans in Missouri
• Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri for Disability Under 65
• Medigap Rating Method in Missouri
• Medicare Supplement Guaranteed Issue Protections in Missouri
• When to Enroll in Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri?
• Can Doctors Charge Excessive Charges in Missouri?
• CLAIM: The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for Missouri
• Additional Medicare Coverage Options in Missouri

The federal government program known as Medicare provides benefits for your healthcare needs. But Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) won’t cover everything. However, with Medicare Supplement plans, Missouri residents can receive help covering out-of-pocket responsibilities when receiving healthcare.

Also known as Medigap plans, Missouri residents have plenty of options for supplemental coverage offered by private insurance companies. But when you shop for Medicare Supplement plans in Missouri, it’s important to assess your healthcare needs, your budget, and the benefits available.

Ultimately, you’re going to want the best Medicare Supplement plans in Missouri, but this will vary from person to person. Below, we review the most popular Medicare supplement Missouri options, how to make the best choice for your need, what’s covered, how much they cost, and so much more.

Best Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri

Original Medicare leaves you responsible for paying at least 20% in out-of-pocket copayments. But there are Medicare Supplement Plans Missouri residents can enroll in to supplement these expenses. So, what are the best Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri? It all depends.

There are ten different lettered plans available and two more that are high-deductible versions of the plans. Each of the lettered Missouri Medicare Supplement Plans is standardized. Therefore, each plan has a set level of coverage that won’t vary from company to company, but your benefits do vary among each individual lettered plan.

For example, while Medicare Supplement Plan F Missouri is going to have the same benefits when enrolled in brand A or brand B, it will not have the same level of benefits as Medicare Supplement Plan N Missouri. So, the focus initially becomes narrowing down the best Medicare Supplement plans in Missouri by looking at your needs.

Everyone has different healthcare and budget needs which is why there is no single best Medicare Supplement plan in Missouri, but there are three that continue to be the most popular among beneficiaries living in the Show-Me State:

• Medigap Plan F
• Medigap Plan G
• Medigap Plan N

Among these three Medigap plans in Missouri, you’ll find that each offers a good amount of healthcare benefits, and there are options for a wide variety of budgets. However, there are also eligibility restrictions to consider as well. Below, you can compare each plan and how it helps cover your healthcare expenses:

Medicare Supplement Plan F Missouri

Medicare Supplement Plan F Missouri offers the highest level of benefits out of all of the Medigap plans available. But sadly, it’s not available to everyone. If you were eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B before January 1, 2020, then you can enroll in Medigap Plan F in Missouri. Here are the benefits you will receive:

• Your Medicare Part A and Part B copayments are covered, and so are your deductibles and any coinsurance costs that might occur.
• Medicare Part B excess charges are rare, but if you do encounter them, you’re covered.
• Beneficiaries using a skilled nursing facility are also covered for coinsurance costs when this healthcare need arises.
• You’ll also receive a foreign travel emergency expenses benefit, but note there is a lifetime limit to this benefit that applies.

As you can see, Medicare Supplement Plan F in Missouri offers a comprehensive level of coverage that leaves you with no leftover healthcare costs when you receive medical care. But what if you were eligible for the Medicare program after January 1, 2020? Fortunately, comparable coverage is available.

Medicare Supplement Plan G Missouri

Medicare Supplement Plan G Missouri offers a great alternative for those that are newly eligible for Medicare benefits and can’t enroll in Plan F. The Missouri Medigap rules that restricted first-dollar coverage plans, such as Medicare Supplement Plan F, have changed. But Medigap Plan G in Missouri offers almost the same level of benefits.

You’ll receive the same level of benefits as Medicare Supplement Plan F Missouri, but the one difference is that you’ll need to cover your Medicare Part B deductible. However, for many, this yearly deductible is much more affordable than the cost of healthcare services and can make sense in the long run.

Medicare Supplement Plan N Missouri

The final of the three most popular plans is Medicare Supplement Plan N Missouri, which does a great job of providing coverage, but also lowering your monthly premium. There are several factors that go into your coverage’s premium, but generally speaking, if you have more coverage, you pay higher prices.

Medigap Plan N in Missouri is going to leave you responsible for paying for your Medicare Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, and copays at both the doctor’s office and the emergency room if you aren’t admitted.

But the benefits are still able to help reduce your healthcare costs in the long term while also keeping your monthly premium low. It’s important to weigh your options, assess your needs, and compare the Medicare Supplement plans Missouri residents have available.

Who Is Eligible for Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri?

To be eligible for Medicare Supplement plans, Missouri residents must be eligible for Medicare Parts A and B. For most, this means when they turn 65 years of age, they have worked for ten years (40 tax credits) and have paid into the Medicare system. When you meet these eligibility requirements, you have your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period, which is a six-month period that begins as soon as you are enrolled in Part B benefits.

However, there are also Missouri Medicare supplement options for those under 65 years old if they have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or have been on disability and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least two years.

Medicare Supplement eligibility in Missouri is important to understand as it can affect your premiums. The earlier you enroll, the lower your premiums will be. Additionally, it’s important to enroll in Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri as soon as possible to avoid having to answer medical underwriting questions which can elevate premiums or deny you coverage altogether.

How Much Do Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri Cost?

The price of Medicare Supplement plans in Missouri is affected by several factors. Your monthly premium rate is based on your location, age, gender, carrier, the amount of coverage you require, and tobacco usage.

Typically, men will pay more for Medigap plans in Missouri than women. Additionally, those who use tobacco products will pay more than those who do not, and if you want more benefits, your premium will often be higher as a result.

To better understand Medicare Supplement plans in Missouri and how much they might cost, we’ve compared premiums for the three most common plans available. These premiums are for both 65-year-old and 75-year-old males and females who abstain from tobacco usage and live in the same ZIP Code within MO:

* If on Medicare before 01/01/2020

Please keep in mind that there are additional factors that may affect your premiums. Furthermore, the sample premiums above represent an average for Medigap Plans in Missouri. Your premiums may vary depending on your individual factors.

Companies Offering Medigap Plans in Missouri

If you’re looking for Medigap Plans in Missouri, there are plenty of companies that offer benefits. Because Medicare Supplement plans in Missouri are standardized, each lettered plan for each carrier will offer you the same benefit level, but the price can range greatly.

Therefore, if you were to compare the benefits of Medigap Plan F in Missouri between two different companies, you’d note the same level of coverage for both carriers. But if you were to compare premiums, they would likely be much different.

Beyond the monetary aspect, there are other factors you’ll want to consider before you enroll with a provider, such as a carrier’s financial strength, customer service, etc. Thankfully, due to agencies such as A.M. Best, S&P, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), you can assess carriers on the things that matter most before you enroll.

Again, if you live in Missouri, you have plenty of options to choose from. Just be sure to conduct your own due diligence before enrolling in coverage. Here are some of the top-rated companies offering Medicare Supplement plans Missouri residents can enroll in:

Here at MedicareFAQ, we have partnered with many top-rated companies providing Medicare Supplement plans Missouri beneficiaries can trust and benefit from. Our licensed Medicare agents are experts that can help you compare your needs, the coverage available and find the right plan for you. Furthermore, our customer care team is there to help you receive the customer assistance you deserve for years to come.

Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri for Disability Under 65

According to federal law, there is no requirement for companies to offer supplemental Medicare coverage to beneficiaries with a disability. However, some state laws require companies to provide at least one policy for disabled beneficiaries.

Missouri is one of the states with this requirement. Thus, if a carrier offers Medicare Supplement plans in Missouri, they must provide at least one option to those under age 65 on disability.

But while Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri for disability are available, it doesn’t mean that they will come cheap. Private companies are not regulated on the price they charge for premiums, and they are often quite elevated for those who are disabled. Furthermore, while there are 12 total lettered Medigap plans in Missouri, disabled persons may not have access to all of them at the discretion of each carrier.

So, for people on Medicare disability, they may choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan until they turn 65. If you are disabled, upon turning 65, you will receive a second Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which will provide you with the opportunity to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan in Missouri without overspending on benefits.

Medigap Rating Method in Missouri

The carrier that provides you with Medicare Supplement plans in Missouri is going to affect the premium you pay for coverage. Part of this will be due to the Medigap rating methods they deploy for their coverages.

In Missouri, there are only two rating methods that can be used. Depending on which is applied to your supplemental coverage, you’ll note how much you pay and when you’ll pay can be affected:

• Attained-age-rated plans look at the age you are when you enroll in coverage and increase your premium as you get older.
• Issue-age-rated plans take into consideration solely the age you are when you enroll, and the younger you are at enrollment, the less you’ll pay. Because of this, it’s always important to enroll as soon as you are eligible to avoid elevated prices that will come as you age.

Your age affects your rates, and rating methods take this into consideration. Additionally, these factors are also affected by inflation, and you could see higher premiums because of economic trends. Always enroll as soon as you are eligible to do so, and be sure to compare a variety of companies to be sure you are getting the lowest premium available.

Medicare Supplement Guaranteed Issue Protections in Missouri

Enrolling in supplemental coverage outside of your Medicare Open Enrollment Period can be tricky. However, there are many different instances in which you’ll have a guaranteed issue right, also known as guaranteed issue protection. Without such, health issues can prevent beneficiaries from receiving coverage or from getting the lowest premiums possible.

Under normal circumstances, if you are enrolling outside of your Open Enrollment Period in Medicare Supplement plans, Missouri residents can be denied coverage, have waiting periods, experience elevated premiums, etc. But during eight different qualifying scenarios, companies are not allowed to increase rates or deny coverage.

To better understand your guaranteed issue rights, there are specific guidelines for life events that you may qualify for as provided by the Missouri Department of Commerce & Insurance. Keep in mind that for each scenario, if you are not eligible for Missouri Medicare Supplement Plans C or F because you became eligible for Medicare benefits after January 1, 2020, your guaranteed issue rights will apply to Plans D and G, respectively:

Scenario 1:

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan and your coverage is either leaving the Medicare program, ceasing coverage in your area, or you are moving outside of where your plan covers healthcare, you can change to a Medicare Supplement plan in Missouri. Here are the lettered plans that qualify:

• Missouri Medicare Supplement Plans A, B, C, F, K, or L

Alternatively, if this situation applies to you, you are also allowed to switch to another Medicare Advantage plan but must do so immediately. You are allowed up to a year in which you’ll retain the guaranteed rights found in scenarios 4 and 5 below.

You can make the switch 60 days before your healthcare coverage will end but not later than 63 days afterward. It’s also important to note that you can’t enroll in Medigap plans in Missouri until your Medicare Advantage coverage is no longer in effect, as you can’t have both benefits at the same time.

Scenario 2:

The second scenario involving your guaranteed issue rights involves your employee coverage. If you meet the following criteria, you can enroll in Missouri Medicare Supplement plans:

• You have enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B as well as an employer group health plan, which includes retiree coverage, union coverage, or COBRA coverage, but you or your employer’s group is eliminating your coverage.

In this case, you can enroll in Missouri Medicare Supplement Plans A, B, C, F, K, or L.

For those enrolled in COBRA, you have the option to wait until your coverage ends or immediately purchase Medigap plans Missouri residents have available. But you’ll need to do so not later than 63 days of your coverage ending, the date on the notice given to you that your coverage will end, or your date on the claim denial (if this applies to you), whichever is latest.

Scenario 3:

If you are in Original Medicare and have Medicare SELECT coverage and move out of the service area of your SELECT policy, you can keep your coverage, but you run the risk of hospitals in your area not being included in your network. Furthermore, you may simply wish to switch to another supplemental form or coverage.

In these cases, you are allowed to switch to Missouri Medicare Supplement Plans A, B, C, F, K, or L in whichever state you will move in. This is allowable 60 days before your healthcare coverage expires but not longer than 63 days after your coverage ends.

Scenario 4:

Known as a “trial right,” if you have a Medicare Advantage plan or have enrolled in the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) right as you were eligible to enroll in Medicare Part A benefits when you turned 65 years old, but decide in your first year that you’d like to switch to Original Medicare, you can purchase any Medicare Supplement plan Missouri has to offer.

You can do so if your healthcare is ending, but no later than 63 days after it’s going to end. Furthermore, you may be granted an extra 12 months for your trial right, but this is only under specific circumstances. Again, you cannot have Medicare Advantage and a Missouri Medigap Plan simultaneously.

Scenario 5:

Residents of the Show Me State are also provided a trial right if they join a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare SELECT plan after dropping Medigap coverage for the first time but want to switch back. So long as it’s under a year, it’s acceptable to switch back to the same Medicare Supplement Plan.

However, if the coverage you were enrolled in before is no longer available, you’ll need to choose from one of the acceptable options provided. This includes Missouri Medicare Supplement Plans A, B, C, F, K, or L and can be done no earlier than 60 days before your coverage ends and no later than 63 days after coverage ends. You may be allotted an extra 12 months for this right but only in select cases.

Scenario 6:

If your coverage ends, but it’s not your fault, such as your provider going bankrupt, you have no later until 63 days after your coverage ends to enroll in Missouri Medigap Plans A, B, C, F, K, or L.

Scenario 7:

Sadly, some companies break the rules in place to protect beneficiaries and may even mislead you while enrolling. In this case, you can switch no later than 63 days after your coverage ends to Missouri Medicare Supplement Plans A, B, C, F, K, or L.

Scenario 8:

Whether it’s 30 days before or after your policy’s annual anniversary date, but no sooner or later, you can switch companies for your coverage. However, you must enroll in the same lettered plan. In the event your plan isn’t available, or you are someone that is switching from a plan that has been discontinued, you can purchase Missouri Medicare Supplement Plans A, B, C, F, K, or L sold in Missouri by any insurance company. This also applies to persons switching from a discontinued plan.

When to Enroll in Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri?

The best time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan Missouri companies offer is as soon as you are enrolling in your Original Medicare benefits. Not only do you enjoy lower premiums and receive more benefit options, but it helps you avoid hassles down the line.

Remember, if you don’t enroll during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period or when you have guaranteed issue rights, you run the risk of paying higher premiums, facing fewer benefit options, or being denied coverage altogether.

Can Doctors Charge Excessive Charges in Missouri?

Yes, while excess charges are not common, Missouri, like most states, allows them. Thus, your physician may bill for excess charges if they do not accept Medicare assignment.

Some Medicare Supplement plans Missouri residents have available do not cover Medicare excess charges. For example, Medicare Supplement Plan N in Missouri does not cover these charges.

Excess charges are an additional cost of up to 15% over the Medicare-approved service cost from a physician who does not accept Medicare assignment. But again, the number of doctors who do not accept Medicare assignment is minimal. You will likely never face excess charges.

To avoid these charges, consult with your physician before receiving any medical services.

Missouri Medicare Supplement Anniversary Rule

The Missouri Medicare Supplement Anniversary Rule occurs each year and permits you to switch supplemental policies within 60 days of your policy enrollment anniversary each year.

With the Missouri Medicare Supplement Anniversary Rule, you can only change from your current plan to another plan of the same letter. For example, you cannot switch from Medicare Supplement Plan G in Missouri to Plan F. However, you can change from Missouri Medigap Plan N with Mutual of Omaha to Plan N with Aetna.

When you utilize the Missouri Medicare Supplement Anniversary Rule, you can make a policy change without going through medical Medicare Supplement underwriting questions. Outside of your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period or a guaranteed issue right, you will need to undergo this process. Thus, you may face denial from a policy due to pre-existing health conditions.

The Missouri Medicare Supplement Anniversary Rule allows you to compare premiums yearly. Plan changes are simple and can be done over the phone. Additionally, reviewing your policy each year is the best way to ensure you continue to pay the lowest monthly premium for your coverage.

CLAIM: The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for Missouri

MedicareFAQ understands that navigating your benefits can be difficult and confusing at times. There are a lot of moving parts and considerations to make regarding your healthcare, and our team is proud to serve as a resource to help guide you, free of charge, to the right coverage for your needs.

But the state of Missouri also has CLAIM, which is the state’s official State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Operating in the Show Me State since 1993, the CLAIM program is run by Missouri Connections for Health, a nonprofit based out of Columbus, MO, that works in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Commerce & Insurance (DCI) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) with oversight by DCI to provide you with the information you need to choose the right coverage.

The team at MedicareFAQ shares this sentiment as our licensed Medicare agents and customer care team have partnered with a variety of top-rated Medicare Supplement companies in Missouri to ensure you receive the best coverage for your healthcare and budget. Our services are free, and rather than sell you a policy, we help provide you with the information necessary to make an informed decision.

Additional Medicare Coverage Options in Missouri

Medicare benefits, including those from Missouri Medigap plans, are available, as there are several healthcare costs that aren’t covered by Original Medicare. Furthermore, other types of coverage may simply suit your healthcare needs better. But options are available and can help you stay better protected.

One great example comes from the benefits found in Medicare Advantage plans. Again, you can’t have Medicare Supplement plans in Missouri and a Medicare Advantage plan, but depending on your health needs, an Advantage plan may be a more suitable option. However, it’s important to note that there are restrictions in availability and networks to deal with, and you may need a referral before seeing a specialist.

There are additional benefits, such as dental, vision, and hearing coverage, that may help you cover healthcare services that Medicare benefits won’t cover. These ancillary plans can be especially helpful for those enrolled in Original Medicare and Missouri Medicare Supplement plans.

Finally, the cost of prescription drugs can be quite considerable, especially as the cost of healthcare continues to rise. Private companies can offer coverage through Medicare Part D plans. But before you enroll, there are two important things you’ll need to know:

• Each Medicare Part D plan operates off of a formulary, which is a list of drugs covered by each individual plan. You’re going to want to be sure that the plan you are looking to enroll in is not only available in your area but also contains coverage for your drugs.
• The Medicare Part D late enrollment penalty can cost you much higher premiums if you choose to forgo coverage when you gain eligibility.